Cigarette dispenser



Patented Sept.` 2, 1.94.7

UNITED STAT ES ATENT oFFlcEz CIGARETTE DISPENSER Hyman Howard Loonin, Brooklyn,` N. Y., assignerY of one-half, to Alex Lindower, Brooklyn, N.v Y.

Application October-22, 1946; Serial No.` '2"04Q8i53'V (Cl. S12-77) More particularly, this invention relates toa cigarette dispenser having a flat hase upon whichV a cigarette holding and feeding box is sl'idably mounted. It is proposed to provide certainl mechanism which will dispense one cigarette at a time in an upwardly or upwardly oblique position each time that the cigarette holdingand feeding box is moved from one end to the other end of said base..

More particularly, the invention proposes the provision of one or more cigarette support arms normally disposed in elongated slots extended inwards from the top face ci the base and pivotallymounted near one of their arms and adapted'to have their free ends pivot upwardsof said base to an upwardly directed oblique position orv-ertical position. It is proposed to provide each support arm with a cigarette holding cla-mp adapted to receive and hold a cigarette sothatit may be conveniently picked 01T- the arm when desired. It is further proposed to provide cam means operative by the sliding motion of said box for moving said cigarette support arms down into substantially horizontal positions in said slots, when said box is moved to positions over saidslots.

Itv is also contemplated to provide each cigarette support arm with Vmeans for urging or moving it into an upwardIy directed; oblique position or vertical position for the purpose of suitably holding the dispensedcigarette so that the cig arette maybe conveniently gripped and removed.

Another objectA of the invention isthe construction of a device as described which issimple and durable'and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a plan view of a cigarette dispenser constructedv in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational Viewl of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of lFi-g. 2.

Fig. llis a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figa. 2.

The cigarette dispenser, in accordance with this invention, includes a base lli having' a flat top Ill provided with elongated slots l2 extended dow-n- Wards'from its top face. 'Iheseslots l2 are disposed.v longitudinally. of the base. There` are. two slots l2y arranged at opposite sides. and opposite.

endportions of the base. A cigarette'support arm IIA. is disposed inl each ofthe slots lf2 and is Divotally: mounted near one of its. ends by a pintle t5. These` cigarette support. arms I'll areadaptedr to. have their free: ends pivot upwards of said base. The cigarette support arm t4 at the right hand end. portiony of:` the base .l-U.- is illustrated iny its up. wardly'extended oblique position.V The other cigarette support. arm i4 is illustrated in a substantially horizontal position disposed within its slot t2..

Resilient means, or other means, is: associated with eachr cigarette support arm I4 vfor normally pivoting its. free end upwards. These resilient means. comprisev springs L6 disposed within the slots |32 and having one of their ends attached to fasteningA elements Il and the other ofv their ends attached to. the support. arms I4 at points offset of' the pi-ntles t5. Each cigarettel support arm lli is associated withy meansv for limiting its pivoting to an upwardly directed vertical or oblique position. This means. comprises a projecting end portion t3y formed. upon the pivoted end of` the support arm I4 andengageable against the bottom. wall or other stationaryelement in the elongatedV slot l2'. when the support arm l!! is located in` its upwardly directed position.

A. cigarette holding clamp Ztl is mounted.v on each cigarette support arm I4. Each of these clamps 20 comprises a U-shaped metal strip4 2l' engaged beneath the arm It and having its` end portions extended upwards and .adapted to engageagainst the sides'of a cigarette 22 rested on the support arm lli; The resilient. action of the clamp 20 is depended upon to hold the cigarette 22-.lirn1l-y` enough to maintain it in positionand yet'loose enough so that the cigarette may be gripped and easily pulled freeof the clamplil.. Eachy clamp 2l). is associated with means for openingthe clamp when the cigarette support arm. I4 assumes a substantially horizontal position in itsl slot |52 and for closing the clam-p 20 in other positions of` the support arm Ifll. This means includes a pin 2t mounted on one: of theendportions of the U-shaped strip Z-I and passing through an opening 25. formed in the.- other end portion of the U-shaped strip 2'I- and engageable with a cam-like groove 26 formed in the side wallA of the slot l2; Another similar pin il? is mounted on the other endV portion of the` Ul-shapecl strip 2l andY passes through a simi-lar opening 25 formed in the other armof the U-shaped strip 2l and engaging a similar 3 cam-like groove 26 on the other wall of the slot I2.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the clamp 2D of the right hand cigarette support arm I4 is shown gripping and holding the cigarette 22, The clamp 20 at the left, that is the one upon the left cigarette support arm I4 which is in its horizontal position, is shown in an open condition because the pins 24 and 24' have been forced towards each other by the cam-like grooves 26 and 26. Cigarettes which are schematically indicated by the dot and dash circles 22 in Fig. 3 may fall upon the cigarette support arm I4 when it is in the horizontal position and its clamp 20 is open.

A cigarette holding and feeding box 28 is slidably mounted on the base IG and is movable from one end of the base I to the other` end of the base Iii. This box 28 has a removable top cover 29 which may be opened to permit the box to be filled with cigarettes. The box 28 has an open bottom which is partially closed by a longitudinally extending beveled top central bridge 38 and by side beveled members 3| which form elongated openings 32 through which the cigarettes may drop one at a time into the slots I2 as hereinafter more fully explained. A flange 36 extends around the sides and ends of the base I 0 and projects above the face I I. The beveled members 3| have tongues 3l slidably engaging complementary grooves 38 formed in the side portions of the flange 36, by which the box 28 is slidably guided on the base I I.

The box 28 also has end beveled members 33 upon its ends for further assisting in directing the cigarettes correctly through the open spaces 32. The cigarette support arms I4 are provided with cam-like members 35 mounted upon their sides in the vicinity of the pivotedends of the support arms I4. These cam-like members 35 are adapted to be engaged by the bottom faces of the members 30 and 3| for forcing the cigarette support arms I4 downwards into their slots I2.

The operation and use of the cigarette dispenser may be understood from the following:

The cover 29 may be removed and the cigarette holding and feeding box 28 may be iilled with cigarettes. One of the cigarettes will immediately fall through one of the spaces 32 and come to rest upon the cigarette support arm I4 which is at the left, in a horizontal position. The clamp of this cigarette support arm I4 is open because the pins 24 and 24' are engaging the cam-like grooves 26 and 26. A cigarette may be dispensed by merely moving the cigarette holding and feeding box 28 to the right hand end of the base Ill.

When the box 28 is moved to the right the bottom portion of the box will strike the cam members 35 of the right cigarette support arm i4 and force the right cigarette support arm I4 from its upwardly directed position down into its slot I2.` The cigarette support arm I4 at the left will be pivoted upwards when the box 28 reaches a certain midway position to the right because the cam-like members 35 will be freed which allows the spring I6 at the right to move the cigarette support armv I4 upwards. When the cigarette support I4 at the left pivots upwards the pins 24 and 24 of its clamp 20 ride free from the cam grooves 26 and 26 so that the clamp 20 closes and grips and holds the cigarette. This prevents the cigarette support arm I4 from throwing the cigarette when it comes to a stop in its upright oblique position.,

The cigarette holding and feeding box 28 may be moved back and forth across the top of the base IB from end to end and each time will be dispensed a cigarette which may be conveniently removed from the cigarette support arm I4.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A cigarette dispenser, comprising a flat top base having an elongated slot extended downwards from its top face, a cigarette sup-port arm disposed in said slot and pivotally mounted near one of its ends and adapted to have its free end pivot upwards of said base, means for moving said arm to pivot its free end upwards, means for limiting pivoting of said arm to an upwardly directed position, a cigarette holding clamp on said arm, means for opening said clamp when said arm assumes a substantially horizontal position in said slot and closing said clamp in other positions of said arm, a cigarette holding and feeding box slidably mounted on said base and movable from a position adjacent the pivoted end of said arm to a position over said slot to drop a cigarette on said cigarette support arm, and means operative by the sliding motion of Said box for moving said arm down into a substantially horizontal position in said slot when said box is moved to a position over said slot, whereby when said box is moved back to its first named position the arm will pivot upwards for holding a dispensed cigarette in an upwardly directed position.

2. A cigarette dispenser, comprising a fiat, top base having an elongated slot extended downwards from its top face, a cigarette support arm disposed in said slot and pivotally mounted near one of its ends and adapted to have its free end pivot upwards of said base, means for moving said arm to pivot its free end upwards, means for limiting pivoting of said arm to an upwardly directed position, a cigarette holding clamp on said arm, means for opening said clamp when said arm assumes a substantially horizontal position in said slot and closing said clamp in other positions of said arm, a cigarette holding and feeding box slidably mounted on said base and movable from a position adj acent the pivoted end of said arm to a position over said slot to drop a cigarette on said cigarette support arm, and means operative by the sliding motion of said box for moving said arm down into a substantially horizontal position in said slot when said box is moved to a position over said slot, whereby when said box is moved back to its first named position the arm will pivot upwards for holding a dispensed cigarette in an upwardly directed position, said cigarette support arm being pivotally mounted with a pintle pin engaged in said base and extending through said elongated slot.

3. A cigarette dispenser, comprising a fiat top base having an elongated slot extended downwards from its top face, a cigarettesupport arm disposed in said slot and pivotally mounted near one of its ends and adapted to have its free end pivot upwards of said base, means for moving said arm to pivot its free end upwards, means for limiting pivoting of said arm to `an upwardly ramasse direotedwposition, fa cigarette holding fclamp'pn said rrmlmeans for opening-'said cla-mp when said arm assumes asubstantiailly hoiiaontal 'positionin said lslot and closing said Y clamp `iin other `positions of said -arm, "-aoigarettje holding' and feeding ybox lsllidably-y mounted vlon said base and movable from a position adjacent the pivoteden'd nf said arm Ltopa position -over said-slot to drop a cigarette on said Ycigarette support arm, and means operati-ve by the sliding motion of said box for moving said armidown intoa substantially horizontalcpos'ition in :said sl'ot when sai-d box is `moved-toa ipositioneover said slot, 'whereby when-said box is--rnoved ftoi'ts' first named position the ari-n1 will `pivot eupwfardsf vfor hold-infg Aa -idispenseddcigarette in -an upwardly directed position, -saifd-means'-for moving said farm comprisinglaspringeonneotedbetween saidoigare'tte supportarm'andlsaid base. e

4; Acigarette dispenser, 'comprising a -lat top base 4having an elongated slotl'eo'itende'd downwards from vl'its utop face, xacigarette'support` farm disposed i-n said-slotan'd pivotally mounted near 'one of `its ends 'andadap'ted Lto have its V4free end pivot Xurnvards of saidfbase, 'means for movi-ng 'said *arm t'o pi-votits Tree l end upwards, Imeans for flimitinfg pivotingfcf sa-i'd arm toa-n upwardly directed position, acigarette holding clamp on arm, means for open-ing said clamp when sai-darm 'assu-mes a substantially"horizontal aposition l--insaid siot 'and closing VAsaid clamp fin other positions `v`lor"sai-darm, a cigarette holding and "feeding Ibox slida'fbly Afrnoun-teizlon -sa'id base and movable from a position adjaeen-tithe pivoted end of said 4arrnto 'a'pos'i-tion over said slot to drop a cigarette on said cigarette support arm, and means operative by the sliding motion of said `Jeux for moving said arm down into a substantially horizontal position in said slot when said box is moved to a position oversaid slot, whereby `when said box is moved Vback to its rst named position the arm will pivot upwards for holding ila-:dispensed acigarette in an upwardly directed position, said means `for. Jmitingipivoting 1 of said arm comprising a projection from said arm engageable against said base.

5. A cigarette dispenser, comprising a flat top base having an elongated slot extended downwards from its top face, a cigarette support arm disposed in said slot and pivotally mounted near one of its ends and adapted to have its free end pivot upwards of said base, means for moving said arm to pivot its free end upwards, means for limiting pivoting of said arm to an upwardly directed position, a cigarette holding clamp on said arm, means for opening said clamp when said arm assumes a substantially horizontal position in said slot and closing said clamp in other positions of said arm, a cigarette holding and feeding box slidably mounted on said base and movable from a position adjacent the pivoted end of said arm to a position over said slot to drop a cigarette on said cigarette support arm and means operative by the sliding motion of said box for moving said arm down into a substantially horizontal position in said slot when said box is moved to a position over said slot,

whereby when said box is moved back to its rst i havingv side portions which engage' the sides-ref Ytl-re igarette; l "6: cigarette 4dispenser, comprising-alliant top base aving: 1elongated slotrextended.,downwards-trom its top face; aioigarotteisnpport arm 'dlisposedvsali'd'slot-and pivotally mounted near foneso-its yendsjanl adapted to have its lreeend ypivot?Yupwardsio said ibase, n-ieans` ifor moving sa diarm A'to pivot 'its Tree' Aend" lu-pwards, 'means it'or pivotingfnfisaid to an 1- upwardly directed ion, afcifgarett holding clampffon said-farm," eansitor =open fg said clamp when said gvarxiv-ass urnes a substantially horiz ontal Lp'osition iin said slotlandclosing-said-#clamp positions' ofi sai-d a cigarette holding and feeding box slidably mounted onsaid base and movable tIrren-na.patitionfadiaeentfthepivoted end ft *'positifonlaover said slot'fto drop la. leigareittenonk sardi-cigarette supp'oritrand 'means operativefiby itheuslliding .motiim said box for movingrsaid armiidownirrto'asubstantiale :ly horizontalpositionzzin said :slot when `seiidzloox 'is-,rmoved: tio AVVposition over lo't whereby when 'diboxrismovedbaclc 'to ziirrst"nam-'ed .positionthe-armlwin pivot 'upward' .or-Jholding dispensed fcigarette ian'inpwai ly-ldireoted punition, saidiameamsftoi limiting pivoting Vof said rarm' comprising' a xprogiection'riroml :said fenzgagealele against :said r base, said garette holding-pimp zcomprisingsa mei-,ai :clamp strap thawing iside portions :which iengageithe f'sides fofifthe rette, .said .means .ifm iopemng; said plampi-fcomparsing-pins mounte'dlon 'the-,side portions .oftlfie piamp rand engaging cam grooves termed @the sidesaotsaid elongatedisl'ot:

vA cigarette. dispenser, A:cor-nprisin'g:Ia anat-,atop base mening :ami-felongated .sl-ot` extended; down'- .its topf'ace, acigarette :supportant-n disposed in said slot-f. anolpivotally imountednear tznezoizts endsarnilaidaptodto have ts dire@ enrd pivot upwamdsLio-f said base, means Ptor'movtng .said :te pivot: :tree rendupwards, means :for dihniitmgiipivotingiroif .said arm to ian-:tvpwardily vdirected position, a :cigarette holding aclamplon said arm, means Stor-iepentng said clampV when said arm assumes a substantially horizontal position in said slot and closing said clamp in other positions of said arm, a cigarette holding and feeding box slidably mounted on said base and movable from a position adjacent the pivoted end of said arm to a position over said slot to drop a cigarette on said cigarette support arm, and means operative by the sliding motion of said box for moving said arm down into a substantially horizontal position in said slot when said box is moved to a position over said slot, whereby when said box is moved back to its first named position the arm will pivot upwards for holding a dispensed cigarette in an upwardly directed position, said cigarette holding and feeding box having a cover removable for filling the box with cigarettes.

8. A cigarette dispenser, comprising a at top base having an elongated slot extended downwards -from its top face, a cigarette support arm disposed in said slot and pivotally mounted near one of its ends and adapted to have its free end pivot upwards of said base, means for moving said -arm to pivot its free end upwards, means for limiting pivoting said arm to an upwardly directed position, a cigarette holding clamp on said arm, means for opening said clamp when said arm assumes a substantially horizontal position in said slot and closing said clamp in other positions of said arm, a cigarette holding and feeding box slidably mounted on said base and movable from a position adjacent the pivoted end of said arm to a position over said slot to drop a cigarette on said cigarette support arm, and means operative by the sliding motion of said box for moving said arm down into a substantially horizontal position in said slot when said box is moved to a, position over said slot, whereby when said box is moved back to its iirst named position the arm will pivot upwards for holding a dispensed cigarette in an upwardly directed position, said cigarette holding and feeding box having a cover removablefor filling the box with cigarettes, and also having beveled members extended across its bottom and forming a space through which cigarettes may pass one at a time.

9. A cigarette dispenser, comprising a flat top base having an elongated slot extended downwards from its top face, a cigarette support varm disposed in said slot and pivotally mounted near one of its ends and adapted to have its free end pivot upwards of said base, meansior moving said arm to pivot its free end upwards, means for limiting pivoting of said arm to an upwardly directed position, a cigarette holding clamp on said arm, means for opening said clamp when said arm assumes a substantially horizontal position in said slot and closing said clamp in other positions of said arm, a cigarette holding and feeding box slidably mounted on said base and movable from a position adjacent the pivoted end of said arm to a position over said slot to drop a cigarette on said cigarette support arm, and means operative by the sliding motion of said box for moving said arm down into a substantially horizontal position in said slot when said box is moved to a position over said slot, whereby when said box is moved back to its rst named position the arm will pivot upwards for holding a dispensed cigarette in an upwardly directed position, said means for limiting pivoting of said arm comprising a projection from said arm engageable against said base, said cigarette holding clamp comprising a metal clamp strip having side portions which engage the sides of the cigarette, said means for openingV said clamp comprising pins mounted on t-h'e side portions of the clamp and engaging cam grooves yformed in the sides of said elongated slot, said base having anges and said cigarette holding and feeding box having tongues engaging grooves in said anges for slidably holding it in position.

10. A cigarette dispenser, comprising a nat top base having an elongated slot extended downwards from its top face, a cigarette support arm disposed in said slot and pivotally mounted near one of its ends and adapted to have its free end pivot upwards of said base, means for moving said arm to pivot its free end upwards, means for limiting pivoting of said arm to an upwardly directed position, a cigarette holding clamp on said arm, means for opening said clamp when said arm assumes a substantially horizontal position in said slot and closing said clamp in other positions of said arm, a cigarette holding and feeding box slidably mounted on said base and movable from a position adjacent the pivoted end of said arm to a position over said slot to drop a, cigarette on said cigarette support arm, and means operative by the sliding motion of said box for moving said arm down into a substantially horizontal position in said slot when said box is moved to a position over said slot, whereby when said box is moved back to its rst named position the arm will pivot upwards for holding a dispensed oiga-I rette in an upwardly directed position, said means for moving said arm down comprising cam-like members mounted on the sides of said arm and engageable by said box,

HYMAN HOWARD LOONIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

